smith



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

S. N. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR SETTING'LAOING HOOKS 0R STUDS.

No. 309,166. Patented Dec, 95 1884.

WITNESEEE. INVENTEIR r4. PETERS, Pholo-bllmgmphnr. \VJshFnglOn. D. c.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

( No Model.)

S. N. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR SETTING LAGING HOOKS 0R STUDS.

Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

l NVENTEIFM p/IM MW/ (No Model.) 3 Sheets--Shee1t 3.

S. N. SMITH.

MACHINE FOR SETTING LAOING HOOKS 0R STUDS. No. 309,166. Patented Dec. 9, 1884.

WITNESSES. INV'ENTEIFM Warren drains harem @rrrcn.

STEPHEN N. SMITH, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

MACHINE FOR SETTING LACING HOOKS OR STUDS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,166, dated December 9, 1.884. Application filed October 4. 1884. (No model.)

I To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN N. SMITH, of Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Setting Lacing Hooks or Studs; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to machinery for setting lacing hooks or studs.

My object is, stated in general terms, to'

produce a machine more simple and more effective than those of its class.

I have adopted in my machine some general principles of construction which have been many years known to the public, and whichI have sought to render operative and practical.

The specific features which constitute my invention are all hereinafter fully set forth, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows the machine in side eleva-' tion. Fig. 2 shows a top View with the hopper in horizontal section. Figs. 3 and 4 are front views with parts in section and parts removed, as explained hereinafter. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the lower end of the plunger with adjacent parts. Fig. 6 represents a cross-section of the track with a hook therein. Fig. 7 shows an enlarged side view of the plunger with certain adjacent parts, the plunger being raised. Fig. 8 shows the same parts, also enlarged, with the plunger down. Fig. 9 shows (enlarged) the lower end of the track in plan, with the plunger in cross-section. Fig. 10 represents, in side elevation and enlarged, the track-entrance to the hopper; Fig. 11, a section of the same on line N N of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 represents the entire apparatus on a reduced scale and in side elevation.

I use a form of hopper shown at A, fixed upon a suitable standard, B. The face a is plain and vertical, and the back is in the shape of a shallow dish, so that the lacing-hooks, put in loosely, tend to the lower edge next to the plain face. Near to the plain vertical face is a groove, 0, in which move closely the ends of the picking-arms d. These arms are formed out of a thin plate, the hub of which is fixed to a shaft, 0, having on its rear end a ratchetwheel, f, driven intermittingly, as hereinafter explained. Each armhas astraight back edge, 9, continuous with the curved front edge of the arm next in rear of it. This curve is such that the front edge of the picking-arm terminates at the end in a point, h. This point passes in the groove 0, and consequently below the mass of hooks. The hooks are sufiiciently illustrated in Fig. 1. The pickingarms and hub are located in such relation to the inner surface of the vertical front wall that space is left for the outer or domed end of the hook 1, but not for the tubular fastening end 2. Therefore, as the arms move through the mass of hooks they pick up those which lie in proper position in their line of movement, and push aside all the others. A hook picked up near the point is taken in position as shown at 3, Fig. 1. As the arm rises the hook slides to position 4, and then as the arm descends on the other side it moves toward the position shown at 6 on its way to the entrance of the track which delivers it to the inserting-plunger. The arms advance in stepby-step movement a distance between the rear edges of adjacent arms, and stop always in the position shown in Fig. 1, where the rear edge is in line with the discharge-orifice from the hopper. The discharge-opening is shown at 7, Fig. 1. It is cut through the periphery of the hopper into the rounded back, where the hook may find unobstructed exit.

The track consists of a supporting-rail, Z, and guide-rail m, which are accurately-fitted to the hopper in line with the orifice, as shown in Fig. 1. At the point of junction these rails are placed with their web in Vertical planes; but they descend with a gradual twist until they are in horizontal plane, in which position they terminate, holding the hook for discharge as shown in Figs. 6, 8, and 9. They are supported on a bracket upon the main standard. The supporting-rail, as well as the edges of the arm, is adapted to the hooks, which slide easily thereon. The entrance to the track is above the lowest part of the hopper, and the arms, moving with curved edges forward, (in direction of the arrow, Fig. 1,) keep the mass of the hooks in front of the en trance and the space about the entrance clear. The rear edge of the arm when at rest thus forms a steep continuation or switch of the main track, and the hooks which may have been picked up in the circuit of the arm slide upon the fixed'track and add themselves to the column which is on the way to the plunger. This plunger D is connected to avibrating lever, E, and reciprocates vertically in a guide-arm, 0, on the main frame or standard. Its lower end reciprocates between the lower end of the track and the anvil F. The lower end of the plunger has a removable end piece, 19, (shown in section, Figs. 3 and 4,) faced with a steel plate, q. The end of the piece 1) is re- .cessed above the plate to receive the domed end of the hook, and when the plunger is up the plateqis in line with the end ofthe track,

and forms a continuation thereof. The recess in the end of the plungenpiece is on one side only, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and receives the hook from the track end, the domed end of the hook resting in the recess and upon the plate. The plate q, as shown in Fig. 5, bears upon the inner end of the eyelet, and when the plunger descends presses it upon the anvil. To retain the hook in this connection with the plunger I have provided a lever, 1-, pivoted on a stud on the plunger 8. The lower end is forced inward by a spring, 9, and forms a guard by the side of the plate (1 to hold the hook thereon. The spring 9 is light, and may be forced aside by the movement of the fabric into which the hooks are inserted. It is also moved back by the pin 10, set in the wall. of a chamber formed in the guide to receive the upper end of the lever. The lever, it-will be observed, moves with the plunger. The anvil is fitted to spread the eyelet, and is in line with the path of the eyelet of the hook,

which is held accurately "on the end of the plunger.

In order to move one hook at each upper rest of the plunger I have provided a feedarm, 8. (See Figs. 3, 4, 7, and 8.) It is on a rock-shaft, 11, which has its bearing in the lower end of a piece, 12, bolted to the guidearm of the main standard. On the outer end of this shaft is another arm, 13, tothe lower end of which is attached a spring, 14, connected to a bracket, 15, on the main frame. The spring tends constantly to draw downward and forward the end of the feed-arm s. The end of this arm, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, swings close by the hook next to the first on the lower end of the track and against the rear of the first, which it pushes onto the plate g. This forward movement is impart-ed by the spring; but the backward movement of the feed-arm and its time of movement is regulated by a lever, t, Figs. 3, 4, and 8. This lever is pivoted on the guide of the plunger, and its upper end has a projection formed with inclined upper edge in the path of a re-enforce plate, 41, on the main lever E, Fig. 4. The lower bent end of lever t bears against the arm on the outer end of the rock-shaft, and when the lever E descends this arm is forced back and the feed-arm carried backward and upward, to allow the hooks to advance and to bein position to feed another hook to the plunger. As the latter rises it releases the arm andilets the spring attached thereto operate thereon to press the feed-arm upon the first hook, thus crowding it toward the plunger. As soon as the plunger is quite up and the plate q in line with the track the feed-arm pushes the hook on the plate in position heretofore described. a, Fig. 9, the movement of which is caused by a spring, 51, and is limited by a pin, 16, projects in front of the column of hooks and retains them in place. The spring is light, and the lever is pushed aside when the feedarm operates 011 the front hook. The end returns, however, and enters the path of the hooks immediately behind the first as it is pushed to its seat on the plate q.

To prevent the column of hooks from sticking on the track, or from moving loosely and not well closed up, I provide a hammer, G, Figs. 1 and 2. The hammer-arm 16 is pivoted at 17, and is turned to engage with a catchlever,-1S, pivoted on the main lever in rear of the pivot of lever t. \Vhen the rear end of the main lever descends, the catch-lever engages with the upper end of the hammer-arm,

A check-lever,

and when the end rises it lifts the said upper end of the hammer-arm against the force of the spring 71 until the end slips from the notch and the spring causes the hammer to strike on the bottom of the tracksupport. This is timed to occur after the plungenface has left the track and while the column is held by the check lever. The blow jars the track and causes the column of hooks to close up on the leading-hook.

In the operation of the machine there is a liability that a hook may be caught by a picking-arm at the entrance to the track, where it has lodged, but is only partially entered, and therefore lies in the path of the arm. In this event the hook is ruined, and there is also liability of damage to the machine. To avoid this I have devised a yielding section of the upper end of the track. This is shown in Fig. 1, and more clearly in the enlarged details.

Figs. 10 and 11. It will be observed that (the arm moving in the direction of the arrow) the hook would be crushed between the point of the picking-arrn and the upper side of the fixed track. I therefore make this upper corner of the track yielding. It may be conveniently done in the manner shown in the figures. In a guideway covered by a plate, 19, is a sliding block, 20, the upper end of which fits into a place out out of the periphery next the trackentrance, as shown at 21. The corner 22 of this sliding or yielding section forms the lower corner of the entrance, and when a hook lodging upon this is struck by the advancing arm it forces the yielding section back and passes over it. It will be observed that the block is set at an inclination to the radius of the hopper nearly tangential and approximating to the line of movement of the picking-arm. The

block is held up by a light spring attached to a pin in the lower end of the block, which pin, coming against the lower end of the guideway, limits the upward movement of the block and brings the movable section accurately in place. The spring has sufficient force to .throw back the block and fling the hook into the hopper after the arm has passed. Manifestly, the form of the block may be greatly changed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In Fig. 12 the general form of the machine is shown in connection with its treadle N and the rod M, by which positive motion is transmitted to the lever E. This motion, through the pawl 23 on the lever E and ratchet-wheel f on the shaft of the hub of the picking-arms, moves said arms. This motion is therefore timed to occur as the plunger descends and while the column of hooks is held at the lower end.

The peculiar form of the entrance to the track is shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The back casing is cut away at 25 to give the eyelet of the hook place to slide to the track.

It will be understood that the fabric or leather in which the hooks are to be set is properly punched, and is fed across the front of the machine step by step after the plunger has worked.

The machine is capable of operating with other forms of hooks of the same general char-- acter as those shown, and without departing from the spirit of the main features claimed may be adapted to modified forms of hooks.

The general features hereinbel'ore referred to and not of my invention 'are the hopper, the intcrmittingly rotating feeding arms adapted to pick up and deliver the hooks to the way or track, the track, and the general form of the mechanisn'i for moving the parts.

I claim I 1. In a machine for setting lacing-hooks, and in combination, a hopper, a picking-arm moving therein intermittingly and stopping in line with the track-entrance, a track leading to the plunger, and a reciprocating plunger having a recess in its end to receive the hook end,

and a faceplate forming when the plunger is up a continuation of the track, all substantially as described.

2. In a machine for settinglacinghooks, and in combination, a track suitably supplied with hooks leading to the plunger and a reciprocating plunger having a recess open only upon the rear and upon one side, whereby the said recess is adapted to receive the dome of the hook, the bottom plate thereof forming a continuation of the track, so that in operation as the stud is secured to the fabric it may be re moved from the plunger through the side opening of the recess, all substantially as described.

3. In combination, in a machine for setting lacing-hooks, ahopper, intermittingly-revolving picking-ari'ns, a track connecting the exitoriiice with the plunger, a groove for the end of the picking-arms, and a recess, 25, at the exit-orifice, all substantially as described.

4. In combination with the hopper of a ma chine for setting lacing-hooks, having an exitorifice for the hooks communicating with a track, and picking-arms moving past said exit, a yielding section of the hopper, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In combination with the circular hopper having exit to the track, and ayielding block forming a section of the case-periphery at the eXitorifice, revolving picking-arms moving intermittingly into line with the track, all substantially as described.

(3. In combination with the hopperand the track of a machine for setting lacing-hooks, a hammer pivoted upon the standard and having its arm bent, as described, and operated by the catch-lever 18 on the lever E, whereby the said hammer is caused to strike the track at certain intervals, substantially as described.

7. In a machine forsettinglacing-hooks, the combination, with a track for the hooks, of a reciprocating plunger having a recess in one corner thereof, and a face-plate extending across the end of said plunger and forming a bottom for the recess therein, whereby when the plunger is up the said face-plate forms a continuation of the track, substantially as described.

8. In combination with the plunger of the described machine having a recess and faceplate, and operating in connection with afixed anvil, a guz'trd-lever, 1-, substantially as de scribed.

9. In combination with the track and plunger of the described machine, a feed-arm, s, a spring to operate said arm, a lever moved-by the main lever for forcing back said. arm, and a spring check-lever, all substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN N. SMITH.

IVitn esses:

GILMAN E. J orr, THOS. A. lllnLrn'r'r. 

